110 years ago - 1912

A bill is before Congress for the establishment of a mail carrier system in all incorporated villages of 1,000 population or over.
At the semi-annual convention of County Superintendents of Highways, held at the highway department’s rooms in Albany last week, Deputy Commissioner Frank D. Lyon, speaking of water-bound macadam roads built by the towns, said that Sullivan County had surpassed any other county in the state, not only in the number of miles constructed, the number of towns engaged in this class of construction, but also in the excellent quality of roads thus constructed.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. George May of Acidalia, a son, February 2.
Jesse Moulthrop sold to Theron Taylor, Thursday, his farm including stock and tools for $6,500. This is the old Moulthrop homestead and has been in possession of the family since 1825, and is considered one of the best farms of its size in the county.
Hon. H. Clark Jackson of Tyler Hill, Pa., is a candidate to succeed himself in the General Assembly. Others seeking the Republican nominations are Fred C. Reichenbacker of Honesdale, Pa., and Theodore Klein of Lake Ariel, Pa. Nelson J. Spencer of Honesdale, Pa., is seeking the Democratic nomination.
A petition has been signed and legal notice published to form a lighting district in the village of Callicoon for the purpose of lighting the streets, avenues and public places therein.

100 years ago - 1922

M.A. Reichgott, formerly of White Lake, took possession of the Steinhauser Hotel on February 1, having purchased it of Ferdinand Steinhauser. Mr. and Mrs. Steinhauser have moved into their bungalow. In the near future they will go to Germany for a few months visit. – Callicoon Center Corresp.
Harmon Laymon of near Goulds, who was hurt by being dragged around the barn by a horse, died on Wednesday in the Binghamton Hospital following an operation. Internment was made in the Rock Valley Cemetery. – Long Eddy Corresp.
H.W. Walton, aged 64, locally famed as a boat builder, died at his home February 4, 1922, of stomach trouble. He was an expert butcher and a carpenter. Moving to Narrowsburg about 17 years ago, he was a Democratic leader in Brooklyn in the fourth district and became prominent as an exponent of athletics especially water sports.
Leon H. Lester of Equinunk, Pa., exhibited three single-comb Buff Leghorns at the Philadelphia poultry show and won first prize cockerel, first prize pullet and second prize cockerel.
Sen. George H. Reichmann, of the 9th New York State senatorial district, died at his country home in Jeffersonville on Monday. The body was shipped to New York on Train 1000 from Callicoon yesterday.
The Callicoon Military Band held a meeting at the schoolhouse Monday night for the purpose of reorganization and getting ready for the coming season. Robert Larkin was appointed director. Rehearsal will be held February 20 at the schoolhouse. At present this is the only band in the county.
The site of the post office in Jeffersonville will be changed on February 15 to the north side of Main Street, between Maple Avenue and School Street.

90 years ago - 1932

Sigmund Ruud, Birger Ruud and Hans Beck of Kongsberg, Norway, competing in the Olympics in the ski events for that nation, may come to Roscoe to visit a townsman after the Lake Placid program is concluded. Rev. Carl H. Yettru, pastor of the Roscoe Congregational Church, is a native of Kongsberg and is an old friend of the Ruud and Beck families.
Miss Ruth E. Hinaman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hinaman of Tyler Hill, Pa., and Ivan A. Swendsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Swendsen of Damascus, Pa., were married February 1 in Honesdale, Pa., by Rev. J.H. Boyce.
About 150 people interested in the welfare of the Callicoon Hospital visited the new institution on Friday and Saturday evenings. Two minor operations were performed at the hospital on Monday. Paul Long of Kenoza Lake was operated on by Dr. H. Edmund Parizot of Jeffersonville, and Wm. Hatton of Youngsville underwent an operation by Dr. George R. Mills of Callicoon.
The Callicoon Boy Scout troop will receive its charter next Monday evening at 8 p.m. This impressive ceremony will be held in the Scout rooms in the Doetsch building and scouts from Jeffersonville and North Branch will take part.
A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smith of Fremont Center on Monday morning, February 8.
On Saturday night, February 6, Henry Eller of Callicoon was surprised on his 75th birthday by many of his friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. H. Eller, who have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, were the life of the party.
New York – A new development in the meat and drink problem indicates that soon we’ll be getting many of our principal foods in brick form. Clarence Birdseye, an American scientist, recently has perfected a process that uses 50 below zero cold to freeze perishable foods as hard as paving bricks. According to reports on experiments and tasting tests, meats, seafoods, poultry, vegetables and fruits frozen by the new method retain their original fresh qualities as long as they are kept hard frozen.
Mr. and Mrs. David Layton of Braman are rejoicing over the arrival of a daughter born February 4. She has been named Kathryn Loretta and has two sisters.
Miss Ruth Anna Sicher of Long Island and Edgar E. Hermann of Callicoon surprised their many friends here last Thursday morning, February 4, when they were united in marriage at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary by Rev. Fr. Finbar Carroll. They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Metzger of Callicoon and then headed south to Florida to visit his parents.

80 years ago - 1942

John F. Fox of Binghamton, formerly of Callicoon, announces the marriage of his daughter, Eileen, to Edward Fitzsimmons of Jersey City.
The Callicoon Hospital, founded here in 1932, had the busiest year of its history in 1941, according to figures announced recently by Dr. George R. Mills, the founder. Admitted during 1941 were 103 men and 185 women; births total 83, 37 of which were boys and 46 were girls.
Miss Hattie Minert, formerly of Callicoon, was united in marriage to Henry Hipp of Woodside, L.I., February 6, in the Grace Lutheran Church of the Bronx.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond VanPelt of Long Eddy are the parents of a son, Russell Roy, born last week.
Mary Esmond Grant of Liberty became the bride of Rudolf Joseph Mochs of Revonah Park on Saturday.
There are seven patients and three babies in the Callicoon Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Buddenhagen of Hortonville are the parents of a son, Herbert Ross, born Saturday; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kuhn of Lackawaxen, Pa., are the parents of a girl born Saturday morning; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wagner of Callicoon are the parents of a daughter, born Sunday morning.

70 years ago - 1952

After a two month countryside search, the Narrowsburg Sport Show Chairmen, Art VanSchoick and Dan LaBarr, have discovered the ideal man to portray the smithy in the Narrowsburgh Blacksmith, Shop Exhibit at the New York Sportsman’s Show. He is the well-known 73-year-old Tom Scott, Cochecton blacksmith, for the past 48 years. In 1904, Tom moved to Cochecton and acquired the 100-year-old blacksmith shop next door to the cochecton Post Office. It is from this shop, still operated by Tom Scott, that most of this year’s exhibit material was gathered. Tom is still active but instead of the farmers bringing horses to his shop, he now rides out to the farms and does his shoeing on the premises.
Dr. Howard K. Patton, Damascus, Pa., has purchased the extensive property of the late Dr. Robert Brady in Honesdale, Pa., where he will continue his practice and make his home.
At the Callicoon Hospital, it was a boy Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Stalker of Callicoon RD.
Dr. Lowell Quiggle, prominent Liberty dentist and bowler, distinguished himself on the alleys of the Liberty Bowl-O-Drome last Monday evening when he bowled a total of 706 for three games. He is a member of the Dice’s Garage teams, and his games were 208, 232 and 266.
Orchids to the cast of “Meet Arizona” which was presented in Callicoon last week and in Jeffersonville last night. The cast, under the direction of Willard Slausenberg, did a wonderful job.
Kay Bertsch, beautician from Lake Huntington, accompanied her sister, Dorothy Bertsch and her fiance, Robert Williams, to Maine Saturday afternoon where Mr. Williams will complete his course at Bates College. His studies were interrupted by his induction in the service.

60 years ago - 1962

The Callicoon Methodist Youth Fellowship received a blue ribbon for their exhibit “Teles Leprosarium,” February 3, at the sub-district meeting in Liberty. Working on the project were Rhonda and Sandra Hermann, Lynne Dudley, Linda Ohls, Ruth Rumble, Eileen Euker, Althea and Linda Blatchly, Richard Freyer, Nancy Engert, Betty Gettle, Gary Maurer, Jim Ohls, Pat Dudley and Allen Freyer. Rev. Roland Ryan accompanied the group to the meeting.
Work is progressing on the bridge over the Callicoon Creek near the Democrat office. A coffer dam has been driven on the Youth Center side of the brook and piling is being driven.
Richard Rosenbaum, former editor and publisher of the Sullivan County Record at Jeffersonville, has opened a public relations office in the Sherwood building at Liberty.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schmidt of North Branch celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary quietly. A few friends dropped in to extend congratulations.
A son was born Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kautz of Callicoon at the Callicoon Hospital.
Cindy Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Buddenhagen of Hortonville, was baptized at the Hortonville Presbyterian Church on February 4.
Arch F. Armstrong and Mrs. Mae Whittaker are to be married February 12. He is a former Sullivan County treasurer.

50 years ago - 1972

Roger Brey, 36, 1st Asst. Chief of the Kenoza Lake Fire Department, is reported in satisfactory condition Monday at Liberty Community General Hospital, recovering from the effects of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning suffered Friday last week, while fighting a fire at the Walter Lux egg distribution plant in Cochecton.
Mr. and Mrs. A. Fred Mootz of Callicoon Center were guests of honor at a golden wedding anniversary celebration at King’s in Livingston Manor on January 29.
Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Peters have announced the engagement of their daughter, June, to Marcel Carrier of East Berlin, Conn. A summer wedding is planned.
Mr. and Mrs. Loren Decker of Cochecton are rejoicing over the birth of a girl, Jennifer, to their son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. David Decker at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa.
Darcia Ackerley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ackerley of Grahamsville, has been named Heart Fund Princess. Darcia successfully underwent heart surgery and is now a lively, healthy girl. Orange-Sullivan Heart Association launched its 1972 Heart Fund with a luncheon held at D’s Restaurant in Monticello January 29.
A son, Roger Lee, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Geer (nee Arleta Johnson) on January 31 at the Read Memorial Hospital in Hancock. He has a brother and two sisters.
About 25 members of the Sullivan County Chapter of SPEBSQSA entertained at Daytop Village in Swan Lake last week Tuesday. Robert Slaver, president of the chapter, headed the delegation of barbershop singers.
A 58-year-old handwritten deed was recorded at the county clerk’s office on Monday. The deed, along with another filed the same day, showed that approximately one-third the original acres in the original deed sold for many times as much more last week. An affidavit of Carl Worsoe of Obernburg accompanied the deed to make clear title to the land being sold to Anthony J. DeLisi.

40 years ago - 1982

Ida “Skippy” Frankel, mayor of Liberty, was guest speaker at the graduation ceremony held at the Delaware Valley Job Corps Center Thursday afternoon. Mr. Quinton Garcia, the elder administrator at the Delaware Valley Job Corps Center, was presented a certificate of appreciation at the ceremonies. He will become Center Director at the Woodland Job Corps Center in Laurel, Maryland.
Henry A. “Bud” Hoffmann, a retired Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy and well known in this area for his athletic ability, died unexpectedly at his home in Annapolis, Md., on February 4. He spent his youth in Callicoon and was a member of the first graduating senior class of the Delaware Valley Central School in 1940. He graduated from the U.S. Navy Academy in Annapolis in 1947, launching a 37-year career in the U.S. Navy. At the time of his retirement in September 1980, he was the U.S. Pacific Fleet Maintenance Officer, stationed in Hawaii.
A daughter, Eve Marie, was born February 1 to Mary Ellen and Jim Rodgers of RD 1, Long Eddy, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, Pa.
The 5th annual Highland Lions Club Ice Tee Open was played on Washington Lake Saturday. Played like regular golf, the participants brave the cold of winter to engage in the event. First prize was an exact replica of the U.S. Open Trophy, carved from ice, courtesy of the Sullivan County Community College Hotel Technology’s Department, second prize was a pair of golf shoes hewn from rubber boots and third prize was a frozen Lions Club T-shirt. There were 63 contestants.
The engagement of Betty Rinaldi to Daniel Snedeker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Snedeker of Kenoza Lake, has been announced by her brother, Robert Rinaldi of Narrowsburg. A June wedding is planned.
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Horton of Wurtsboro have announced the engagement of their daughter, Betty, to Peter Lindsay, son of Betty Lindsay and Harold Lindsay, both of Wurtsboro.

30 years ago - 1992

Town of Fallsburg Supervisor Nat Kagan has been named to fill out the remaining term of office for the late Richard “Dick” Elliott as mayor of the Village of Woodridge. Prior to the unexpected death of Elliott on January 18, Kagan had served as deputy mayor for the village. He was elected supervisor in November of 1991.
Unemployment in Sullivan County has increased sharply in December of 1991 according to New York State Labor Department, up to 9.2 percent from the 6.9 percent in November of 1991.
For the sixth year in a row, the Hortonville Presbyterian Church will host their talent show on Saturday, March 7, at the church premises.
The 12th annual Frederick Douglass Breakfast, held Sunday morning in Woodbourne, attracted more than 400 people. Dr. Lewis Howard presented Betha Williams, Director of Head Start and founder of the Sullivan County Association for the Studying of Afro-American Life and History, with the Frederick Douglass Award.
At the annual Sullivan County Reunion, held at the Crystal Lake Country Club in Pompano Beach, Fla., three hotel businessmen from the Catskills represented 224 years in the business. They were Ben Posner, Milton Kutsher and Dave Levinson. More than 300 Sullivan County residents attended the February 3 gathering with Ben Kaplan, former Sullivan County Publicity Director, as chairman.

20 years ago - 2002

Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department PBA has announced that contract negotiations with the county have reached an impasse.
Work on the Concord Hotel project is on hold. Developer Louis Capelli noted that the events of September 11, and then waiting to see what will happen with the two casino projects in the area, has caused him to delay the project indefinitely.
The Center for Discovery in Harris, working on a $15 million new construction project, is expected to have a projected $83 million impact on the county.
The old Lake Jeff Hotel will be demolished, but Al Zecchine, who represented the corporation which purchased the building in 1999, is looking towards something new going in its place, in which the residents of Jeffersonville can be proud.
Kristina Schmidt, daughter of John and Hazel Schmidt of White Sulphur Springs, and Phillip Sell, the son of Phillip and Ann Sell of Hicksville, were married.
Irving Krongel, retired owner/operator of Krongel’s Bakery in Jeffersonville, died on February 5. He was 87.
A bowling marathon, held at the Villa Roma Hotel Bowling Lanes, in memory of Lauren Hughson, raised $19,000. for the Lauren Hughson Fund. The Charlie’s Angels 2001 unbeaten Women’s Championship Softball team put together the event.

10 years ago - 2012

Late last year, the Literacy Volunteers of Sullivan County held a training class for those who want to help tutor illiterate adults. The culmination was a graduation party for the 12 people taking the course. It was held at the Literacy Center Bookstore in Monticello. These dozen tutors have all been paired up with an adult student in need of aid, and will help each person learn the literacy skills needed to live—at no cost. At the same time as time as these tutors were learning to teach others, another group was also receiving a different kind of training. This one was put on by Pathstone, an organization funded by US Department of Labor which helps elders learn work skills. They take low income, unemployed seniors and give them part time jobs, while also giving them job training to help them work on their own. Both the tutors and a group of ten seniors were recognized the same night. The latter received certificates of job readiness, showing that they have completed all the training they need to be successful on the job market.
Julian Giamino, senior at the Fallsburg Central School, provided the entertainment at a dinner attended by New York State Commissioner of Education, Dr. John B. King Jr. King was the featured speaker at the Sullivan County School Boards Association’s (SCSBA) Fall General Membership Dinner Meeting held at the Fallsburg Central School last month. Prior to the meeting, the commissioner, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Kenneth Slentz, and James Jackson, member of the NYS Department of Education Board of Regents, had the opportunity to briefly tour Sullivan County BOCES to become more familiar with innovative efforts of Sullivan BOCES and learn how area schools are collaborating with BOCES to find cost effective solutions to increase student performance and operational efficiencies. Following their trip to Sullivan BOCES, the three were welcomed by Dr. Ivan Katz, superintendent of the Fallsburg CSD and Alyce VanEtten, president of the Sullivan County School Board Association with a dinner crafted by the Fallsburg Central School, and appetizers and dessert prepared and served by the BOCES Culinary Arts students. The dinner was topped off with the instrumental talents of guitarist Julian Giamino.